Vietnam urges Australia to remove ban on uncooked shrimp

Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), in coordination with
the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is working with Australia’s
relevant agencies towards the early lift of Australia’s ban on the import of
shrimp and uncooked shelled shrimp.

On January 7, the
Australian Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources announced the
suspension of prawn and uncooked shelled shrimp imports from Asian nations in
fear of white spot disease outbreaks in Australia. The ban took effect on
January 9 and will last for six months.

The MoIT has raised the
issue at all bilateral meetings with the Australian side after the issue of the
ban, expressing Vietnam’s concerns and asking Australia to consider removing
the ban or replacing it with other measures with less negative impacts.

Minister
of Trade Tran Tuan Anh sent a public letter to the Minister of Trade, Tourism
and Investment and the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources in February of
Australia on the matter in February.

According
to the MoIT, the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Minister
of Trade, Tourism and Investment of Australia sent their replies on March 8 and
April 30, respectively, explaining that the ban was based on regulations of biosecurity.

They
added that the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is working on the
matter, including reviewing import conditions for products targeted by the ban,
in order to make necessary decisions for the resumption of safe trading
activities of shrimp products soon.

The Australian ministers
affirmed that Australia attaches importance to bilateral trade with Vietnam,
including trading in agricultural products. They said Australia is willing to
cooperate with Vietnam to review risk assessment measures.-VNA